The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-14
in THE PALACE or POVERTY,
The Wearing Work Which Mr.. Pow.
derly 10 Doing.

IN THE PALACE or POVERTY
The Wearing Work Which Mr.. Pow.
derly 10 Doing.
A majority of the members of the
general executive board of the Knights
of Labor are now in the city, and it II
expected that within few days tho IL.
naming members will arrive. writes a
Philadelphia correspondent of Tho New
Iork Times. General Master Work
man Powderly came here early in the
week. as did +. B. Mcguire, of district
assembly No: 40. New York, P0wderlj
doesn' t look we'll. His face is pale
and thin and wears very tired and
careworn expression. Ordinarily hia
complexion is bright and fresh. but
when your correspondent saw him last
evening at the Bingham house tho
change for the worse in his appearance
was quite noticeable. His face looks
almost haggard, and his blue eyes ap-
pear weary and do not flash behind his
glasses us they used to do. The work
which he is obliged to do is breaking
up his health.
= 10 direct the workings of such >
body of ignorant and discordant ele.
ments as the Knights of Labor is her.
culean task. and for over year; since
the, great southwest strike. fowderly
has constantly overtaxed his strength.
A large proportion of the order blind:
ly insist on his answering their betty
inquiries and complaints in person. and
this renders it needful for him to work
sixteen and eighteen hours day:
Consequently, with the great strain
thus occasioned, he loses sleep and is
burdened with care. His associates
on the general executive board do
nothing in comparison with him.
The numerous expressions of dis
satisfaction at the purchase of the
North Broad street palace that have
been heard on every hand have evi.
IDENTIFY caused Mr.: Powderly a great
deal of annoyance. He took occasion
yesterday to issue a public statement
concerning it in the Official organ Of
the order, known as The Journal Of
United Labor, and conducted BY
Charles H. Litchman, the general Sec
rotary. In the statement he explains
and defends the action of the general
board in purchasing the palace. He
says:
1.-The general executive board, in
purchasing new headquarters, did not
act hastily. but made careful inquiry as
to where property would be likely to
sell the best in case it becomes neces-
sary to sell again. The property OF
Mrs. Baird, on Broad street, Philadel-
phia, was offered for sale. We investi-
gated carefully and found that it was
a first-class property. and was worth
$4,000. The house, barn, outbuild.
ings, and lot cost $113, 900 in cash. By
discreet management it was obtained
for $45, 000-$5, 900 less than the sum
which the general assembly voted for
the purchase of a suitable place. There
is plenty of room, good light, and &C.
commodations. 1t is within eight
squares of the public buildings and the
Pennsylvania railroad at Broad street.
When it was purchased several costly
articles of furniture and household fix
ings, which could not be used by the
owner elsewhere, were thrown in with
the building, and are now the property
of the order. Since we have removed
the headquarters to that building we
have been offered $4,000 more than
we gave for it by one party and $751;
900 by another
Nobody disputes the bargain secured
in the purchase by the Knights of La
Dor. but it is doubtful if Mr.. Powderly's
statement will satisfactorily explain
away to critical and sober minded men,
bers of the order the imputation of ex-
travagance and luxuriousncss in having
such an establishment as the North
Broad street palace for headquarters
of the sons of toll. In the publication
of this statement by Mr.. Powderly ex-
clusively in the Knights official organ
there is a significance that is not known
to the general public. 1t might be ask
ed why the daily papers of this or 9TH
er cities did not obtain from Mr.. Pow
derby an interview upon this very sub
ject The answer is readily given that
he absolutely refuses to speak on any
question for publication in 1.-The cap-
talistic press. Ever since the Rich
mond session of the general assembly
last October, at which the bitter con-
troversy arose between him and the
correspondents of the leading public
journals represented in his newspaper
Glass; Mr. Powderly has had what
may be called most aggravated case
of newspaper distrust. Before that
time he could be interviewed freely
enough, but now he refuses point blank
to say anything to representatives OF
the press, declaring, when asked for in.
formation on any point, Il don't
Know or II haven't word to say"
Mr. Powderly usually goes up to the
North Broad street palace between
and 10 o'clock in the morning. aud
tolls there steadily until evening. ATT
o'clock he returns to the Bingham
house, takes dinner, and then goes to
the theater or takes a brisk walk about
the city. When out walking he care.
fully muffles up his neck and throat,
and IN his exercise he travels straight
ahead, as though he had so much
ground to cover in a limited time.
Mostly he walks alone, but sometimes
with his confidential friend and COL
league, John w. Hayes. After tho
theater or walk he returns to the hotel
and dcvotes several hours to work. He
rarely retircs before l o'clock.
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